European Airline Adds Child Free Zones for $49
nj.com
nj.com
As a father I was not amused: The reputation damage has costed BA many flights tickets from my family and UK tourism at least one journey to the country. Probably more.
I don't deny that children can be disturbing: But 99% it's their stupid parents' fault. Instead of interacting with their children they concentrate on the so-called entertainment system or nowadays their so-called smartphones. Their has been recent research that generation Z has lower social skills and more mental health problems than the previous generation that grew up mostly without electronic devices. Of course it's only a correlation, but causality seems pretty obvious to me.
I don't think most parents want their kids to be noisy of whiny either, it's just how kids often are! Plus, they've just been inserted in a confining and boring environment, perhaps for quite a while, it is only natural that it upsets them a bit. I don't like being in a plane either, I just have the benefit of self control and understanding that it'll be over soon. Kids just don't. Not a whole lot a parent can do about that.
I also understand that it's hard being a parent, and sometimes you need some time to do something, anything, else. But the issue is that you're not just letting your kid scream in your house, where you're the only one bothered. You're in an enclosed vehicle with many other people who had no say in the matter and didn't know beforehand what they were signing up for. I think it's your responsibility to make sure you're not a PITA to them.
As an example, where I live, there usually are cinema showings where children will show up. You know that if you go and there are a whole bunch of rowdy kids, you won't be seeing the movie quietly. But you know this going in, and can choose to go some other place or time. When you find out there's a screaming brat on a plane, it's already too late for you to make any choice.
Depending on the country and airline, passengers seated in the emergency exit rows need to be at least 12 (EU, UK) to 15 (US, Australia) years old. The IATA definition of “child”, for the purpose of fares, is under 12.
Thus, a narrowbody jet with 3-3 seating could have room for up to six adults but not a single child.
That said, exit rows usually get snapped up quickly so this may be unlikely.
Tell me you don't have children without telling me you don't have children.
My kid is 2 years old and never touched a phone in his life. Still, some times he cries for reasons we don't understand or know how to address, or maybe for no reason, as children have been doing for hundreds of thousands of years before phones where invented.
I’m not a father but something about this rubs me the wrong way and feels anti-social.
It's a fact that there are numerous people who, for whatever reason, don't take care of their kids while on a flight. That's already a nuisance right now, even though there's no kid-free zone.
Since it's impractical to ban "bad parents" from a flight, they chose to ban kids altogether. This is why we can't have nice things. But "this" are the bad parents, not the companies trying to make a buck. Although I doubt that if everyone was a "good parent", they wouldn't look for some other way to nickel and dime us.
In my experience the quiet coach is generally quiet.
One has little option when 6’ in a standard pitch seat.
No, it isn't tall people, as I already said.
Imagine if they introduce stashes of assorted candies, crayons, painting books, and other activity stuff to give it for free to the kids. A tad controversial but as a last resort, what about internationally accepted kid’s medicated cough syrup — will likely make the kid drowsy enough for a calmer experience.
Just thinking out loud. I have two daughters who have been flying around since zero-years. I empathize with other parents, and always see if I can help them if needed when their kid starts the routine.
I'm not a parent, but I'd very likely absolutely hate to have to give some random concoction to drug my kids.
I love this. I would pay for it when traveling solo, and when traveling with my child it would alleviate at least some of my anxiety knowing that those who really hate being around the issues I'm likely to be dealing with should be in a different section.
I don't like that it's pay gated though. That means someone less well off who has issues with it is likely to be MORE upset.